Side Effects of Carac or Efudex

Hi Kathy, glad it's going so well. I can't thank you enough for keeping me posted and your words of encouragement. I will start soon, Bonnie

Ouch! I take it back..this is no fun. Really, in the last day, my arms have "flared up" quite a bit. This is nothing like my face but, I am definitely aware my arms. A little itchy and I really do look like I have measles. There is not really any pain, just tightness and irritation. 1/3 the way there. Haven't peaked yet but I don't think it will be very much more intense..don't know though. Glad I'm doing it now and not earlier or later..be done for Thanksgiving!

Hi Kathy, thanks for the update. I'll be with you, starting today. I just have to do it and get it over with by the holidays. Thanks for your honesty. Any hints, did you use moisturizer from day one? Hang in there you're almost half way there. I spoke to someone yesterday who used it on his face for only 2 weeks and had a good result. My Dr. told me to use it for as long as I could tolerate. He said anywhere from 2-4 weeks would be the best, of course 4 being optimal. Lets keep each other updated. Hang in there!! Bonnie

Hi again Bonnie and everyone. A little over 1/3 of the way to the end of treatment on my arms. This is pretty easy but right where my arms bend, inside the elbow, it's really red and irritated and swollen. Bbcoach, did this happen to you? May be because this area is more tender;the skin isn't as exposed or thick? Whatever, it is really red, about 2" x 2" on my right arm, smaller on my left. Bonnie, I started using moisturizer about 6 days into the treatment and I'm using neosporin on my inner elbows starting 2 hours after I put the Carac on, and all day long, all night too because I don't want that area to get dry and crack; that would be painful for sure. I guess I am reacting this way because the Retin A had already begun to cause the top layer of my skin to peel a little. Oh well...I'm going out of town for a few days and we're having a garage sale tomorrow and I'll be really busy between then and my trip...so about a week will be taken up w/other things to think about. I'll keep you posted....Bbcoach...how are you doing? You should be getting close to the end...and Bonnie...good for you! Keep me posted, too. Kathy

I'm glad I found this forum. It's 3:45 AM and I am 18 days into a 2 applications/day three week regiment. I am itching and burning too much to sleep. I want pain pills and sleeping pills but I won't be able to talk to my Dr until Monday. I was sure I was having some sort of alergic reaction until I found you folks and followed the links here to: topicalchemo.com. He definitely beat me on the hamburger scale but not by much.

At any rate, I am feeling a bit more composed after reading about your experiences and will bull my way through the treatments. I thought I had a reasonable tolerance for discomfort but this is trying. I don't know how people with long term or chronic pain can stand it.

Good night (for you - I'm not even going to try).

PS: no vaseline in the house. I will get some tomorrow.

Hi, I'm on day 3 of using Carac on my arms. Nothing going on, maybe it's the calm before the storm. My stomach isn't doing well though. Has anyone run into this? Thanks for all the input and encouragement. Bonnie

Hi there Donheff. Yes, you're among comrades here. It is really difficult; I felt the same as you, thinking that I must be allergic or worse. This site has helped so much. It does get better...you are right in the midst of the worse part...week 3 is horrific. But, as you've read and seen, it will be better. Keep up your spirits, I know it is so so hard, buy try. AND the vaseline will help so much, you'll feel better. Kathy

I was able to get some hydrocodone and Ambien so I got a good night's sleep. Althouh I had to go to my GP to get it. But the vaseline was the best suggestion -- it makes an enormous difference. The most upsetting part of this experience was the lack of forwarning. The doctor said I would look and feel like I had a sunburn. The problem is that doesn't effectively describe the worst parts. I am pretty thick skinned (no pun intended) and am quite prepared to joke a little about getting hit by a flame thrower or whatever. But, when you are not sure whether your reaction is in the normal range or is alergic it is hard to be light hearted. Had the doctor showed me somthing like topicalchemo.com to understand what can happen if you have the "iceberg" effect of numerous undisclosed problem cells I can guarantee I would not have begun treatment without a prescription for pain pills and Ambien.

I plan to give the doctor some constructive feedback and then switch to someone else. ---

Thanks again,

Don

I forgot to mention in the previous post that I posted a high res photo of my face on my web site for the doctor to see if needed when prescribing pain pills over the phone. If you want - take a look: http://tinyurl.com/ybtlx2 In my lay perspective I have a significantly less extensive involvement than the guy at topicalchemo.com except on the forehead where I had a pretty extensive "iceberg" effect. It was that area that was giving me the most trouble sleeping. On the good side, so far there were only about three days out of the 20 I have been in treatment that I really need pain meds. I haven't bothered today and do not feel uncomfortable. I expect that I will take a hydrocone and an ambien to go to sleep for the next few nights and then that will be it.

Hello you two. First of all, Bonnie, I think you should notify your Dr. about stomach upset. I read online re:carac that "...should stomach upset or regurgitation occur, notify your physician." Good advise; follow it, just to be sure. I felt that way initially when doing my face but have not felt any sickness now that I'm doing my arms and that is a much larger area requiring more Carac. But, talk w/your doctor to be sure.

Don, I looked at your photo...YES! that's it. It does hurt hurt hurt. I did not use any pain medication except tons of Midol; that helped. The tightness and cracking were the things that drove me nuts. Now, my arms are flared up and red and splotchy, while some areas that I THOUGHT would react, arent while, others are...weird science!! to be sure.

Thanks for the photo...it confirms experience. You're doing fine, though.